In 2011, 66.8 percent of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered for recycling.

Dec. 3, 2012 (Press Release) - If your business, community or school has an outstanding paper recycling program, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) wants to hear from you.

Entries are now being accepted for the 2013 AF&PA Recycling Awards, which recognize businesses, communities, and schools across the country for new and innovative programs that aim to increase the amount of paper recovered for recycling.

A winning school, business and community program will each receive a $2,000 cash prize, a piece of original paper art, and local and national visibility, and runners-up will be featured online. New this year is a Fan Favorite award in each category, determined by online voting resulting from a social sharing campaign. Award descriptions, criteria, and entry forms are available at paperrecycles.org. The deadline for entries is Feb. 15, 2013.

In 2011, 66.8 percent of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. In fact, nearly three times more paper is recovered for recycling than is sent to landfills. As part of a comprehensive set of sustainability goals called Better Practices, Better Planet 2020, AF&PA and its members have set a goal to increase the recovery rate to exceed 70 percent over the next eight years. The awards program helps support that goal by recognizing and rewarding outstanding paper recycling programs and facilitating the sharing of best practices nationwide.

For more information about paper recycling — including statistics, educational materials, interactive features, and guides for starting or improving a paper recycling program in your area — visit paperrecycles.org.

The American Forest & Paper Association (www.afandpa.org) is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners.

The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP. Industry companies produce about $190 billion in products annually and employ nearly 900,000 men and women, exceeding employment levels in the automotive, chemicals and plastics industries. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states.